Getting a SIM card in India • Hacker News Board

Re: Getting a SIM card in India

#21

Post by bluerobotcat » Mon, Dec 23, 2013, 2:17 PM UTC

This is nothing compared to the $1,000 security deposit an AT&T employee asked me for an prepaid iPad SIM card. They wanted this deposit because I didn't have a social security number.

T-Mobile sorted me out eventually, but they have their own issues.

Not being able to get a SIM card in India is actually a huge deal for travelers because India's roaming fees are pretty much the highest in the world. I remember a short (5 minutes?) phone call that set me back 100 euros a few years ago.

Re: Getting a SIM card in India

#22

Post by tyoma » Mon, Dec 23, 2013, 2:17 PM UTC

My experience of getting a SIM card in Mumbai:

Go to hotel concierge, ask about getting a SIM card. Referred to English speaking member of staff. Offer him INR100 plus costs to get me a sim card with data plan. Browsing the web within 15 minutes.

Re: Getting a SIM card in India

#23

Post by dangoldin » Mon, Dec 23, 2013, 2:21 PM UTC

tyoma wrote: post #22

My experience of getting a SIM card in Mumbai: Go to hotel concierge, ask about getting a SIM card. Referred to English speaking member of staff. Offer him INR100 plus costs to get me a sim card with data plan. Browsing the web within 15 minutes.

Yep! That's pretty much what my attempt turned into after trying to do it on my own. It took me 4 hours though - still better than the 24 they said it would take.

Re: Getting a SIM card in India

#24

Post by chmars » Mon, Dec 23, 2013, 2:24 PM UTC

swatkat wrote: post #9

The procedure is same for Indian citizens too. All operators ask for address proof, ID proof and a passport size photo. You'll immediately get SIM card and it would be activated after 24 hours, sometimes much sooner. Moreover, if you're buying a postpaid or Internet connection, then operators send somebody to the address you've given during purchase to verify if it's genuine. All these steps are in place to prevent c…

And of course, criminals and terrorist would never get their SIM cards from someone else …?! :->

A mandatory registration to get a SIM card is very common on a global level but it's more about lawful surveillance of lawful citizens. All other 'citizens' won't bother with providing the surveillance state with valid credentials.

Re: Getting a SIM card in India

#25

Post by szatkus » Mon, Dec 23, 2013, 2:25 PM UTC

girvo wrote: post #11

Interesting. In Australia, you go to any store or 7-11/newsagent, buy a SIM starter kit, show photo ID and sign a document saying you're not a terrorist, then out in the SIM and activate it online or over the phone.

Good that terrorists are very honest people...

Re: Getting a SIM card in India

#26

Post by arocks » Mon, Dec 23, 2013, 2:26 PM UTC

Despite poor infrastructure in many areas, India has one of the best telecom infrastructure thanks to Sam Pitroda - the father of Indian telecom. From Wikipedia [1]:

"As technology Advisor to the Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi in the 1984s, Pitroda not only heralded the telecom revolution in India, but also made a strong case for using technology for the benefit of society through missions on telecommunications, literacy, dairy, water, immunization and oil seeds."

Getting a SIM card is intentionally hard partly due to their prevalence for terrorist activities (especially in its initial days when anyone could simply buy a SIM card from a store without any ID proof) and partly from the lack of a centralized electronic citizen identification system similar to SSN.

[1]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Pitroda

Re: Getting a SIM card in India

#27

Post by mcpherrinm » Mon, Dec 23, 2013, 2:27 PM UTC

bluerobotcat wrote: post #21

This is nothing compared to the $1,000 security deposit an AT&T employee asked me for an prepaid iPad SIM card. They wanted this deposit because I didn't have a social security number. T-Mobile sorted me out eventually, but they have their own issues. Not being able to get a SIM card in India is actually a huge deal for travelers because India's roaming fees are pretty much the highest in the world. I remember a shor…

I had a AT&T employee helpfully give me an account with nothing more than my first name -- I think he filled in the address of the store and zeros for everything else. But I'd previously had them outright refuse to sell me one.

I bought a T-mobile SIM at Walmart for their legendary $30/mo unltd data plan, and online activation wanted a bunch of PII (I forget if it asked for an SSN as I had one at that point).

I really wish getting a prepaid SIM was easier than it is, but I can understand law enforcement's apprehension about "burner phones". Ideally I'd shove a $20 in a vending machine in an airport when I land and pop it in my phone.

Re: Getting a SIM card in India

#28

Post by dobbsbob » Mon, Dec 23, 2013, 2:28 PM UTC

tyoma wrote: post #22

My experience of getting a SIM card in Mumbai: Go to hotel concierge, ask about getting a SIM card. Referred to English speaking member of staff. Offer him INR100 plus costs to get me a sim card with data plan. Browsing the web within 15 minutes.

This, the regulations are a big sham. I asked a cab driver where I could buy one and had a working SIM with no ID for a small bribe within a few minutes

Re: Getting a SIM card in India

#29

Post by seshagiric » Mon, Dec 23, 2013, 2:29 PM UTC

Considering that cell phones have been a favorite choice of certain elements (they can be used as triggers etc). The process to get a sim card is now really (hopefully) tightened. Or at least not as easy it was before.

Re: Getting a SIM card in India

#30

Post by marquis » Mon, Dec 23, 2013, 2:29 PM UTC

pilsetnieks wrote: post #15

lukeqsee wrote: post #6

I know the process in Europe (Germany & Italy, at least) is similar, without the need for a local reference or visa. I was very surprised (and frustrated) to discover the need for a photocopy of my passport, but the need for connectivity and the inexpensiveness of the plans finally won me over.

Not everywhere in Europe – from my experience to get a prepaid SIM card in Austria, France, Sweden, Spain, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and most likely many other countries you just need to plop some cash on the counter and be on your merry way. Documentation is generally only required for a card with a contract.

Same in New Zealand, Australia, Mexico, Portugal (to add to your list of just getting a pre-paid SIM). Getting a mini-SIM is a bit more expensive at the moment if you have a newer phone. In the U.S. T-Mobile doesn't ask for anything identifying either.